Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-20

the sum or S2,067 46. ALI of this sum has been
retained for trespass that has been committed
upon lands claimed by the State as swamp.
The disbursements from the Governors Contin.
gent fund to December 81, 1886, were $2,079. 20,
and the balance to the credit Of the fund on that
day was $3656.21 l recommend the usual appro
prlation Of $4,000 per year.
ACCOUNT WITH THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT.
have the pleasure Of reporting to the Legisla
ture that all of the account known as the war tax
levied against the State of Wisconsin, amounting
TO $519 6sS 81. has been paid and that the United
states owes, upon the settlement, TO the State Of
Wisconsin So, 4o943 and some Of the old claims
are still pending upon which it is hoped to receive
additional allowances. When assumed the du.
ties Of Executive there was S207, 685.16 standing
against the State. This amount has been paid By
credits which were allowed the State upon the
readjustment Of our claims against the general
government for war purposes, for swamp land
indemnity, and for five per centum of the sales Of
public lands prior to June Both, 1882.
The whole amount of the war tax, in my judg
ment, should be refunded to the several States.
A measure is now pending before Congress to re,
imburse the several States by repaying such az
have paid, and crediGng such as have not paid.
Il this Should pass, Wisconsin viii receive S519,
GS8.c7, out of which the school and swamp lanG
funds could be reimbursed for the amounts di-
verted from those funds, and the balance paid
into the general fund. I would recommend that
the Legislature memorabilia Congress to pass this
measure
have also collected the five per centum on the
sales Of public lands for 1883 amounting TO
demnity S3tS 90, all of which has been paid into
the State Treasury. expect to be able to collect
from these sources for the years 1884, 1885 and
1886, 500, 900 more.
CHARITABLE AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS.
The report of the State Board of Supervision
presents a very full and satisfactory showing re-
garding the management of the State institutions
under its care The total amount expended by
the Board during the biennial term ending Sep
TENDER 30, 1886, was S735, 008 SO. OF the amount
tod oipto
and support of the six charitable and penal in
situations, $50, 900 has been unexpended, and will
be returned into the Treasury: During the two
years ending last September the total number Of
persons cared for in all the State institutions
ore against g. 721 for the previous biennial term.
Although there has been an increase of 355 in the
number of persons cared for, the current eX-
penses for the biennial term ending September
30, 1885, were S12 337 less than for the cores
ponding term ending September 30, 1884, While
there has been an average decrease in the per
| capita cost of managing the Institutions, the
weekly average for 1886 being So. 10, the lowest
ever reached, there has been no curtailment but
rather an enlargement of the amount of neces-
Sary supplies furnished.
The State Hospital for the Insane, for 1885, cost
S94 547 and for 1885, 1914 206 the weekly per cap
tia cost falling off from So So in 1885 to So as in
1886. The appropriation asked for by the BoarI
for the next two years is Sll4O54.70 over and
above 81, 672 per year, which will be received
from the counties, and the estimated surplus OF
$4,000 from the last appropriation
The Northern Hospital for the Insane cost for
Size, SOP IS; decreasing the weekly per capita cost
$373 in 1885 to 50 % i'll 1886. The Board of Super
vision estimates that the appropriation needed
for this institution for 1887 AID 1888 will be $780,
268, besides the estimated surplus of sly 900 from
the appropriation two years ago. and $40 900,
which will be received each year from the coun-
ties.
The School fer the Deaf has a surplus OF
S. 600 from the last appropriation, and the Boari
estimates that $4,000 will be req tired to support
the School for the coming two years. The eX-
penSeS for 1855 were $375S53 80, and for 1885, 500
04307. The popu!ation has decreased from >05
in 1885 TO 1876 III 1885 the increase in cost lei
chargeabla to extra improvements about the
buildings by renewals, anu by making the corps
of teachers stronger than ever, for the purpose
of meeting the demand for more thorough i'll
instruction in the oral department.
The School for the Blind cost the State S19,-
$3.50 in 1885. and $i7,4843j in 1886. The average
attendance in 1885 was 62, and in 1886 it had in
fell off from 5000 in 1885, to $500 in 1886. 1t will
be seen that the per capita cost is much greater
than in any other of the charitable institutions,
owing to the fact that the attendance is unusually
small, and also because the care and instruction
of the blind are more expensive than for any
other class of pupils. The Board asks for an ap-
dropriation of S44, 250 for the biennial term,
which will enable it to make such needed
repairs as are necessary to keep the buildings in
good condition.
The Industrial School for BOYS Incurred an ex-
pense of S45 613.27 for 1885, and Sal, Al for
1856. the weekly per capita cost falling Oft from
So 90 in 1885, to 269 for last year. The annual
cost of the shops, for material and labor, is esti
mated at S42 600, but the sales therefrom will
nually meet this expenditure SO that the total APP
Precipitation recommended by the board, for cur
rent expenses for the next two years, is $74 473,
in addition to $4,000 which will be received from
counties.
The State Prison had 443 inmates in 1885, and
455 in 1885,. The total expense for the prison for
1895 $751; 94t03, and for 1885, S62, 163. 40, the
increase being caused by substantial improve
ments and the establishment of a hospital. The
receipts from convict labor were 4 1856 81 in 1885,
and $50 in 1886, so that the net cost Of the
prison to the State for the past two years, was
Only ST., 1889.
The contract for the labor of the convicts of
the State Prison, under the system adopted some
years ago, will expire with the year 1887. Under
this contract the State furnishes the labor of the
convictS by the hour, and retains the manage
ment and feeding Of the prisoners. Should the
Legislature determine to abolish the system now
in use some method should be provided for the
employment Of the inmates. 1t would be disas-
trous to the prisoners, as well as the State, to I'M
dertake to maintain them in idleness. They
should work. They should assist certainly in pay
ing the expenses of their keeping. AS a refor-
matory measure also, they should be employed.
$ Each should produce according to his ability
and receive according to his needs.'' AS near as
practicable, they should be so employed that their
labor or products would not come in competition
with free labor.
The cost of maintaining the prison during the
continuance of the present contract for the labor
will be about 500 500 Of which $40, 900 will be re-
ceived from convict labor, making the appropria-
ton asked for by the Board S11,500 for 1887.
Within the next two years the prison will be
filed to its utmost capacity, and it would be wis
dom on the part Of your honorable body to take
this question under consideration and, il it shall
pc thought best to establish another prison, to
consider the suggestion of the prison warden and
The recommendation of the Board, that the new
prison be set apart for the younger convcts COM
mitted for the first offense, with the hope that
such prison would present the best conditions
FOR reformatory work, as the mixing of criminals
Of all ages and degrees Of crime is not calculated
70 work reform among those VINO most need the
wholesome influence of purely reformatory iE-
HtitutiOn.
This state Public School for Dependent and
Neglected Children was established by authority
Of chapter 81, Laws of 1885, and was located at
Sparta THEE buildnge were erected under the
state Board of Supervision, and SO far the loca-
ton and improvements have cost S29,967. The
Board reports that the indications that within
few months the school buildings will be filed to
! their utmost capacity.
COUNTY ASYLUMs
| There now organized, under the county
| system, fifteen county asylums, and these
| seem to be doing a good work in a sat
! isfactory manner. The danger of this sys-
| tenn is the liability that an anxiety on the part
| of local managers and suparintendents to make
an economical showing to their counties will
cause these institutions TO revert to pauper SYS-
TEN. This danger is now obviated by the rigid
State supervision maintained by the State Board
| of Charities and Reforms. TIE power of this
i